ABSTRACT
Objectives: Early investments in new diagnostic technologies that allow for rapid and decentralized testing were critical in reducing SARS-CoV-2's detrimental health and economic effects. This study evaluates public knowledge about, acceptance of and willingness to use COVID-19 self-testing kits. Methods: An online descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire was used in this study. The final study population included all contacted national and resident adults, age 18 and over, who were willing to engage in the study. The survey was divided according to participants' demographic information and 11 questions assessed the respondents' understanding of and willingness to use COVID-19 self-testing kits. The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 24. Multivariate linear regression models were used to identify the factors influencing respondents' knowledge of and attitudes toward the acceptability of self-testing kits for COVID-19 and their willingness to use these kits. Key findings: A total of 876 respondents participated in the study and completed the whole questionnaire. The average knowledge score on the acceptability of and willingness to use self-testing kits for COVID-19 was 70.2%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) [69.1%, 71.4%]. Participants who were postgraduate, female and vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as employees and older participants, were jointly highly associated with higher levels of knowledge about, acceptance of and willingness to use self-testing kits for COVID-19. Moreover, participants who had been infected with COVID-19, were vaccinated against COVID-19 or were female, employees, older, Western or Arabic were jointly highly associated with positive attitudes about the acceptability of and willingness to use self-testing kits for COVID-19. Conclusions: The majority of the respondents have acceptable levels of knowledge about, acceptance of and willingness to use self-testing kits for COVID-19. Nonetheless, future studies should consider the issues of pre- and post-test counselling, false negative results and the sale of unregulated testing kits. Additional information should be communicated so that people can make informed decisions and be protected from possible abuse of COVID-19 self-testing kits when they become available in pharmacies.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The early approaches to prevent the spread of COVID-19 included lockdown and social distancing measures, leading to university closures. These measures forced unparalleled changes to the delivery of healthcare education. Concerns included the preparedness of faculty and students to e-learning as well as the routine availability and funding of equipment and internet bundles. This needed addressing with fully trained healthcare professionals required given rising inappropriate use of antibiotics in India, growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases as well as an increasing number of patients with joint comorbidities. Consequently, there is a need to ascertain the current impact of the pandemic on healthcare student education across India. Materials and Methods: This was a pilot study among 10 purposely selected healthcare educators in both private and public universities. The questionnaire built on published studies. Results: Identified challenges included a lack of familiarity with online education, no bedside teaching, lack of equipment and affordability of internet bundles, poor internet connectivity and postponed examinations. Ways forward included training faculty on e-learning, providing students with loans and other financial support to purchase equipment and internet bundles, establishing COVID-19 prevention protocols and protective equipment, recording lectures and tutorials to make up for lost time and simulated methods to teach clinical aspects. Conclusion: Despite challenges, there was a rapid move to online learning among surveyed universities. Alongside this, courses to address lack of familiarity with e-learning approaches with hybrid teaching approaches here to stay. The next step will be to undertake a wider study and to use the combined findings to provide future guidance.
ABSTRACT
Background: Health care workers (HCWs), being in the front line dealing with COVID-19 patients, are facing various challenges. Therefore, being aware about COVID-19 is of high importance. The overall aim of this study is to evaluate the HCWs' knowledge and attitude about COVID-19. The objectives of the study are assessment of HCWs' knowledge and attitude about COVID-19 and determining the significant factors that influence their knowledge. Methods and Materials: a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among convenient sample (n=353) of HCWs in the UAE by using an online self-administrated questionnaire. The data was analyzed using the SPSS version 26. Mann Whitney u test and Kruskal Wallis test were used to test the differences in quantitative variables across groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between the knowledge about COVID-19 and significant factors. A p value <0.05 was chosen as the criteria to make decisions regarding statistical significance. Result(s): A total of (353) HCWs participated in the study and completed the whole questionnaire. The average knowledge score was 76.3% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) [75.2%, 77.5%]. Of the total participants, 122 (34.6%) have poor knowledge, 81 (22.9%) have acceptable knowledge and 150(42.5%) have good knowledge. In the present study, significantly higher knowledge scores were observed in Western participants (OR 2.83;95% CI 1.51 - 5.29), General practitioners (OR 1.319;95% CI 1.03 - 1.69), participants working in Dubai (OR 1.47;95 % CI 1.28- 1.69) and participants who had been in contact with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases (OR 1.235;95% CI 1.11- 1.37). On the other hand, significantly lower knowledge scores were observed in participants aged 30-39 years (OR 0.760;95% CI 0.647- 0.893), Arabian participants (OR 0.76;95 % CI 0.58- 0.98) and participants with less than 1year experience (OR 0.729;95% CI 0.601- 0.883). Conclusion(s): This study revealed that HCWs working in the UAE have a good level of general knowledge about COVID-19 symptoms, transmission, progression, and prevention. Questions about deeper knowledge revealed a lower level of knowledge. Therefore, tailored awareness campaigns may be required in order to meet HCWs' needs and enhance their levels of deep knowledge. Copyright © RJPT All right reserved.